Following up on the success of its first USA outing, Don’t Flop has another Atlanta event coming up, and the headliner is none other than Chilla Jones vs. Math Hoffa. Although there’s a major American presence on the card, Eurgh and Sonny Bamboo have once again put their connections to work to create some fire match-ups. This one is particularly bold, but like so many others, it seems undergirded by careful insight.
Perhaps Chilla said it best: the game needs Math. That’s his purported reason for accepting the battle, and most long-term battle rap fans would agree. It goes without saying that Math has been through some turbulence over the last couple years, and this will mark his return after the Dizaster incident, disagreements with KOTD and a mysteriously canceled battle against Ill Will on URL. They say everything happens for a reason, and Don’t Flop being a neutral battleground seems to make it a perfect comeback stage. More importantly, Chilla is the kind of opponent that will put Math’s slept-on pen to work with absolutely no drama.
Chilla assures us that he’ll be in top form for this clash, and his admission that Math is his most dangerous opponent yet says a lot. He's not talking about Math being physically dangerous — he’s talking about presence, and his wariness is well-advised. Chilla is known for his pen above all, but keep in mind that he’s proven he can hang with versatile opponents like Real Deal and Daylyt. That said, Math must have a lot to talk about by now, and Chilla will undoubtedly have to push himself to keep up with his intensity.
Regardless of his opponent, Math’s comeback battle begs the question of how he’ll address his recent tribulations. Whether he aims to smooth things over or fan the flames of his various conflicts remains to be seen; maybe he’ll even forego that whole approach and give an equally shocking bars-only performance. What’s guaranteed is that he will be fully focused and eager to do his numbers and update his legacy. Of course, Chilla will probably also have some things to say about Math’s ordeals, and his sharp writing will undoubtedly take some of the edge off other opponents bringing them up in the future.
Is Math going to spend a significant portion of the battle addressing his grievances? Maybe. Is he going to punch Chilla in the face? Probably not. Think what you want about the match-up, but recognize that it marks the return of a staple in battle rap and the next step toward greatness for one of its most promising figures.
Don't Flop's "Resurrection" goes down Saturday, April 4 at Apache Cafe, 64 3rd St. NW Atlanta, Ga., 30308. It's a 16+ event, but you must be 21 or over to drink. It runs from 2:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and admission is $20.
Predictions for the battle? Leave them in the comments below.
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